February 6, 2021
What are you afraid of?
The dark, mice, spiders, snakes, heights, needles, airplanes, public speaking, germs, disease, death. When looking up all the different kinds of fears that exist, I counted over 100 different types of fears or phobias. I noticed that fear and anxiety can lead to depression and yet another discovery I made in my internet travels was that psychotropic medication usage and sadly suicides are increasing drastically.
When we think of fear, we generally think of it in an unfavorable connotation. But fear is a God given emotion which motivates a response to a threat we perceive before us. We live in an evil, sin filled world, and we are faced with threats and concerns regularly. To have the emotion of fear can be advantageous. To fear is not sin, but our response to the fear can sometimes be sin.
God gave us the emotion of fear to help protect us. We will recognize a danger and then react to it. For instance, when our family went on vacation to the Grand Canyon, we kept a safe distance from edges of the cliffs. Not because we were afraid of heights but because we saw the danger and did not want any of us slipping and falling over the cliff. I also recall a time that the tornado siren went off in the middle of the night and my husband and I gathered the kids into the basement for safety. These are examples of healthy fears. We recognized the danger and responded responsibly.
Though fear can be for our welfare, not all fear is healthy. Sometimes our response to a fear can be more destructive than the fear itself. For example, I recall a time when our youngest child was just starting to drive on her own. She was out late one night, and I was unable to contact her on her cellphone. She was not answering due to playing a game with friends. The roads were getting icy and I wanted to warn her. When she did not answer the phone, my mind began to think the worst. I then started calling other parents and getting really upset and worried. It is easy to look back and see how I responded poorly, I wanted to fix the problem. My emotions were soaring in fear. Did I pray? Yes, but my prayer was filled with fear, not faith. I did not lay the burden down and rest in God’s sovereignty. (Isaiah 26:3) Instead, I cried out in worry. She made it home safely that night. Praise the Lord! But my reaction to the fear did affect my relationship with my daughter, she thought I overreacted. She did not see a faith-filled mother but a fearful mother. That was not the example I wanted her to witness. In Proverbs 29:25 we read that “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” My response to this fear was not a healthy one.
I have heard the phrase “Face your fears head on!” I am not sure if that’s good advice. The Bible tells us that when we fear, we are to trust in God. Psalms 56:3 “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.” I do not think we need to face our fears, our fears are right smack in front of us! But what we should do is look to Christ in the midst of our fears. He is our Deliverer! Psalms 34:4 “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Isaiah 41:13 “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” In John 14:27 Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
When fear, worry, or anxiety rises in us, they should motivate us towards God. Do not face your fears, turn from your fears and turn to God! He wants us to call upon Him in faith, knowing that He is able to save and deliver! The scriptures tell us to take action. Come unto Him, seek Him, trust Him, pray, fear not, don’t let your heart be troubled! These are the responses we are instructed to have when fear comes along. His strength is perfect in our weaknesses! (2 Corinthians 12:9) When we are living in Christ, His perfect love drives out our fears. (1 John 4:18) Don’t worry, pray! (Philippians 4:6-7)God has given us the emotion of fear to motivate us to respond appropriately. We are not to face our fears but humble ourselves before Him. Casting or throwing all our cares upon Him. Why? Because God cares for us! (1 Peter 5:6-7)
Fears should drive us to Jesus. In Hebrews 4:14-16 we read, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
From what I’ve read, throughout Jesus’s earthly ministry He never had fear. Jesus calmed storms, cast out demons, healed leprosy, and even rebuked Satan. Then the night came that His earthly ministry was ending. He made His way to the Garden of Gethsemane, He experienced great anxiety. So much so that He sweat drops of blood. (Matthew 26:36-42, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46) Jesus knew that He was born to die. His sole purpose was to take on the sin of the entire world. Justice had to be served. God’s wrath must be poured out and Jesus knew that He was the only one who could withstand God’s wrath. Did Jesus, God in the flesh, experience the emotion of fear in the garden? I don’t know but if He did, we see that He did not face His fear head on. Jesus cried out to the Father and the Father gave Him the strength to endure. Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
As fears come our way in life, those fears should motivate us towards Christ. He paved our way and gave us access to the throne. Jesus said in Revelation 1:17b-18 “Fear not; I am the First and the Last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
If you have not trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I urge you to click on the menu selection titled “Do You Know Jesus?” There you can learn how to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.
Scriptures For Further Study:
Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 16:6, Proverbs 22:4, Matthew 6:21-34, Matthew 10:28-33, Romans 8:37-39, 2 Corinthians 4:6-18, 2 Timothy 3:11-12
In Times Like These 